Itinerary · 3 Days

3 Days in Prague

Medieval castles, cobblestone streets, and the cheapest beer in Europe — all on a student budget.

Total estimated budget

£74–103

Daily average

£25–34

Best for

Budget city breaks

Arrive, Old Town & the Astronomical Clock

Day 1 · Budget: ~£22–30

Afternoon: Check into your hostel — Old Town or Žižkov are the best areas for budget stays. Expect to pay £12–18/night in a dorm.
2pm: Walk to Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí). Free to explore. The square is one of the most beautiful in Europe — Gothic churches, Baroque facades, and street performers.
3pm: Watch the Astronomical Clock (Orloj) chime on the hour — it's free and genuinely impressive. Climb the Old Town Hall Tower for panoramic views (£6).
4:30pm: Walk across Charles Bridge (Karlův most). Free, always open. Best in the late afternoon when the light hits the statues.
6pm: Dinner in the Old Town — try svíčková (beef sirloin in cream sauce with bread dumplings) at a traditional Czech pub for £5–8.
8pm: Evening walk through Malá Strana (Lesser Town) — the streets below the castle are beautifully lit and much quieter than the Old Town.

Day 2 · Budget: ~£24–35

8:30am: Breakfast at a local bakery — pečivo (fresh rolls) with butter and ham for under £2. Avoid the tourist cafés near the castle.
9:30am: Head up to Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) — the largest ancient castle complex in the world. The grounds are free; the circuit ticket (St Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, Basilica) costs £12.
12pm: Lunch in Hradčany — the neighbourhood just outside the castle gates. Quieter and cheaper than the tourist strip inside.
1:30pm: Metro to Vyšehrad — a hilltop fortress with sweeping views over the Vltava river. Free to enter the grounds. The cemetery here is worth a look.
3:30pm: Walk down into Vinohrady — Prague's most liveable neighbourhood. Tree-lined streets, independent coffee shops, and zero tourist crowds.
5pm: Coffee at one of the Vinohrady cafés — flat white for £2–2.50. Browse the local shops on Mánesova or Blanická streets.
7:30pm: Dinner in Žižkov — the student district. Pizza, burgers, or Czech food for £5–9. Lively bar scene if you want to stay out.

Day 3 · Budget: ~£28–38

9am: Walk to Josefov — Prague's historic Jewish Quarter. The synagogues and Old Jewish Cemetery are sobering and important (combined ticket £16, free under 6).
11am: Stroll along the river embankment (Náplavka) — a local favourite on weekends with a farmers' market and riverside cafés.
12:30pm: Lunch at the Náplavka market or a nearby pub. Goulash with bread dumplings for £4–6.
2pm: Walk up to Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) — more of a boulevard than a square. The National Museum at the top is free on the first Sunday of each month.
3:30pm: Last coffee and a trdelník (chimney cake) from a street stall — touristy but genuinely tasty, £2–3.
5pm: Head to the airport or bus station. Airport Express bus to Václav Havel Airport takes ~35 minutes (£3). Flixbus and RegioJet run cheap overnight coaches to other European cities.